Apparatus for registering and aligning printers&#39; forms, plates, and the like



Jaim, 28, E936. c A BET-rs 2,928,965

APPARATUS FOR EGISTERING AND ALIGNING Y PRINTERS FORMS, PLATES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 16, 1954, 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR `ATTORNEY Jam., 28, 3936. A C, A, BET-rs 2,028,965

APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING AND ALIGNING PRINTERS FORMS, PLATES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR C/ar ce /l es. BY

' ATTORNEY atented Jan. 28, 1936 UITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR REGSTERING AND ALIGN- ING PRINTERS FORMS, PLATES, AND THE' LiKE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for registering and aligning printers forms, plates and the like as used in multi-colored printing, so that the color impressions made thereby will have perfect registry in that there are no overlaps or irregular spaces between the colors forming a printed composition.

As is well known in present printing practices, a key form is prepared by assembling a plurality of plates on a mounting base or a type form within a chase and the forms for the other colors are prepared by placing the plates or type for those colors on their mounting bases or with the chase in as near the same position as the corresponding plates or type of the key form. Mounting of the plates or assembly of the type is more or less a hit and miss process with the object to place the plates or type as near as possible in their desired location, after which the final registry is attained on the printing press. Consequently, it is necessary to take the press out of profitable production for a substantial period of time while the respective plates of the forms lare brought into registry.

This results in high cost of printed matter because of long periods of time during which the press is out of operation and wastage of materials necessary in taking impressions on strike sheets incidental to registering of the plates.

Owing to the time required, the resultant registry is more or less a compromise in order to place the press in operation as soon as possible. The printed material is thus of inferior quality due to poor registration of the colors.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide for assembling the respective sets of color plates or type in proper position so that each set of forms is in substantially perfect relative registry with those of the key form.

Then when the forms are placed in the press, the colors struck therefrom will be in desired registry withoutfurther adjustment so that the press is out of production only for the time required in positioning the forms therein, thereby reducing the production time'and cost of multicolored and'similar printed compositions.

In accomplishing this object, I employ a novel registering and aligning apparatus as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of an aligning and registering apparatus showing my improved method of measuring the location of the plates on the key form.

Fig. 2 is a detail longitudinal sectional View on the line 2 2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View oi the apparatus showing the method of taking a proof of the key form whereirom the subsequent color plates are mounted in registry on their mounting bases.

Fig. e is a perspective View of the apparatus showing the method of setting up the second color form.

Fig. 5 is a similar View showing the impression proof moved into position for checking location of the respective plates in the second form.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional View on the line 6 6, Fig. 5.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a table top that is supported in substantially horizontal position on .a frame 2 of any suitable construction. Supported on the edges of the table are side rails 3 and Il and front and back rails 5 and 6 to form a rectangular recess in the table top of substantially the same depth as the mounting bases employed in con-A structing the forms.

The side and front rails 3 and 5 are provided on their upper edges with standard scales 'I and 8 suitably marked in inches and preferably calibrated in gli inch markings. The inch designations on the side scale 'I preferably start at the front of the table and are numbered consecutively toward the rear, while the designations on the front scale B preferably start at the side of the table and are numbered toward the opposite side, as clearly shown in Fig. l.

'Ihe rails thus described are constructed straight and true and are arranged so that the adjacent ends thereof are at exactly 90 degree angles.

Fixed to the rear ends of the side rails 3 and Il are hinge members I0 for hingedly supporting a lid member II'. The hinge members include pairs of arms I2 and I3 fixed to the rear ends of the side rails and to the lid member respectively,

the arms being pivotally connected by bolts I5 extending through aligning openings in the ends thereof, as shown in Fig. l.

The arms I2 carry laterally extending lugs I6 forming stops for engagement of the arms I3 to support the lid II in slightly rearwardly inclined position when the lid is moved away from the top of the table I.

Ihe lid II includes a rectangular frame I8 of substantially the same dimensions as the table I so that the edges thereof are adapted to lie flatly on the upper edges of the front, rear and side rails when the lid is in closed position on the table. Inset from the outer edges of the lid frame I8 at a distance substantially equal to opposite side Y Vof the, rail 'and preventjmovement of `tliefhe'adlongitujdinallyL thereof. The eccen-V ,y y Y in the5s`arre'r'r-1annerto-Ycompletefassembly of the ikeyfor'n.

.and from vposition for'inounting theirnpression 'thereon/for testing location of: the rvsubsequent Vcolorfor'ms,"the frame thereof` is provided with a suitable'handle '39,l that isshovvnin'lg. 5.

the width of the rails are plates I9 forming a rectangular opening 2l] of smaller dimensions than the inner dimensions of the frame I8.

stretched over the opening 2l] is a transparent panel 2l preferably formed of sheet Vcelluloid or some similar shatter-proof material having its inner face 22 capable of receiving an ink impression of the key form asherein/afterdescribedt y The-edges of the 'transparent panel 2i overlap the upper face of the plates I9 and are `secured. thereto by clamping strips 23, the clamping strips being retained in position by fastening devices 24 extending therethrough and into suitable iopenings in the strips I9.

The front and rear rails 5 and 6 and the side rails 3 and 4 are provided Withfthread'ed hori- Zontally positioned openings 25-forreeeivingthe threaded Shanks 26 of thuiii'b screv'tfs Y2'l whereby printing forms are moved intosubstantially central lposition Within ,the .rails and retained by spacing.. 'mocks is as hereinafter fas-scribed.

Usedfin'conjunctioh withfthetableal isa T'- squareZS including a 'substantially "ar'iglel shaped head 3D having a horizontal flange "portion 3'! adaptedftovoverli'e :the 'scales 'and a 'depending flange portion 32 adapted'to engage Iagainstthe outer face ofjtherails. l L y v l Y The Tgv-squarealso linclu' s a Viiat plate 133i vhaving' one end 'xeditethe horizontal 'angeportion of the headfSU "and 'itsoppo'site end extending across the to'p- 'of 'the "table and 'resting on the vclam'lgiedto 'the rails byfin'jeans'lof yan eccentric et exea' o n 'eishaiftes that istrotatatiy 'mounted in a'bearingl opnin'g'finfthe blade 33at r'a point spaced from 'the head VA3l) thereof the eccentric being positioned'to'engag'eag "t the inner-face ofoneof the rails to drawgthe arigeportion 32 of the headintocl'arnping 1 engagement with the tric y311' is'rhoved intoiandlut'offclainping engagement .WithI therail by aijkmlrledfinit` 37 iixed` to the' end of the shaft which projects above the `blade of the IT--squ'ar'e*a's'bestishovvn in lFigs. 1

38 marked inch,designationsjnuinbering vfrom 'one' end 'toward the' oth'erand calibrated inV 3,'2nds fof an: inch similartotlie"scale'il on Ythe rail- 5 vas 'previouslyl described. Y t

In orderk to facilitate movement ofthe v,lid `v`to In` using ,the apparatus above described, in's'etof the'table by spacingfblocksZB which aremoved into clamping position Withfthe edges V#of the Vmounting vbase upon manipulation of thel thumb screws 21. K

The edges of the mounting base'maybe checked toascertain if they'l trel in properj-parallel vrela- .tion 'with theY rails Ybyneansl ofthe T"square ywhich maybe usedwiththevhead" engaging vvone Yof the side rails"3 ordito-test-Ythe frontand.- rear edges .of thefbaseialnd'withthe headn the'iront rail`V stof testthesideedges-thereof. ift-matin i the T-square.

inked 'in' ordinary'ma'nner.

Vproper position, the base may be readily adjusted to bring the edges into alignment with the ledge of the T-square by readjusting the thumb "marks 'on the blade of the T-square when the head thereof is snugly engaging the outer face -rof the rail 3 and the upper edge thereof extends over the desired point on theV plate. Y

The T-'square is then clamped in position so that v'it will not be accidentally moved from its Y Y selected position and the succeeding plates in the `rs`t roWare placedY in alignment under the 'T- `square secured in position With the'po'intsin regular spaced 'relation vvas Vdx-Lterrriine'd yby the scales.

The eas-urements Vof these points are vnoted 'l on tire scales of the T-square and side rail and made of record for reference When-'locating Ythe loorresponding points on the othercolorplates as later described.

The :first plate inthe next 'upper ro'W'fi's posix30 *tioned on the mounting base -With tlie'point there- `on "directly in Vertical alignment yWith the point of `the 'corresponding plate in the flowerrowand With the plates finalignment With lthe lbladeief Thismay beY ascertainedby-plaoy.' ing'the head of the T`square on the frontrail Y"and "aliglningthel point with thelpoint onthelower plate.

A'fterthis plate is ein pos'itionandse'euredto ltlief'basef the' rsquareis thenfeplaeedjon the rau fw 3 Iand the other-plates in the row ar-'ealigned and secured With tl'iepeints inthe samespacedirela-Y t tion '-'as corresponding plates in-ther"st row.

The remainingroWs 1 of platesfarelthen lapplied Aftervthe keyform--isiem' leted andtheloc'ation of thepointsfforallf-'oftheplateslinadef l recordfthe T-square isl rernovedk and? the plates are The lid is" then' swungdownwardly'bver' thet'o'p 50 vof the table Y until i the tra'fisparent 'panel 1' lieslin Y super-incumbent positionlover'` the plates.

Afpre'of isthnmade en 'thecontacting? face of 4 the transparent panel iby means f of ifa' plane'rd I 155 and malletf42 `v:as Y indicated -in Fig. f3, the? planer being placed ofn the upper surface -of V'the transthe under facerof the transp-arent plate to be pressed into forcible Contact Alvv'ith the {printingfi60 surfaces of 'thelpla'tes Y Y Y Iff desired, the proof may beniade onthe transf'parent panel }by"press`ing a Yroller rover the lupper lsurfaceiof the transparent'panelinstead of using ytheiilanrrandirnallet.

After-fthe proof is made; .the lid is' swungfback to fits' original position as's'hown ini 1l'igfi.

The impression d3 of the key A form f'is lthen plainly discernible' on `the`f transparentllpanelin thesgamerelation? as' it Twill:r appear Yon astrike` the table' ther -same manner 4k,and i saine relative location as the base mountingllfor'the key ormf75 'The selected points on the second color plates are then located according to the markings on the T-square and rails to the dimensions that have been made of record and the plates secured to the base mounting in customary manner.

After the individual plates have been mounted, the lid is moved onto the table to ascertain Whether or not the impressions on the transparent panel are in proper alignment with the printing surfaces on the plates. This may be readily observed since the ink impression and plates are clearly observable through the transparent panel.

If any of the plates do not properly align with the impression, they are moved to position until they align with the impressions on the transparent panel.

The forms for the other colors are then set up in similar manner so that when the forms are ready for the press each individual plate on one form will align with the corresponding individual plates on the other forms.

If desired, imprints of all the forms may be produced on the transparent panel so that a complete color composition is set up on the panel.

After the forms are nished, it is then only necessary to mount them in proper position in the printing press so that the printing operations may be started as soon as the plates are in place.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided an apparatus whereby the various forms may be quickly assembled in exact registering relation so that When the forms are inserted in the press the colors when printed therefrom will be in perfect registration with each other.

While I have particularly described the invention as applied to color plates, it is obvious that the apparatus may be used in aligning various types of printing forms and plates incidental to printing practice.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described,

a support for removably retaining printing' forms, rails on the support enclosing the forms and having graduations, means for aligning the forms in relation to the rail graduations, means eccentrically connected to one of the rails and having graduations for indicating the position of the forms relative to the side rails, and a transparent shatter-proof panel hingedly mounted on the support for receiving an imprint from the forms. whereby succeeding forms may be placed and aligned in the support in exact relation to each other.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a support for removably retaining printing forms, rails on the support enclosing the forms and having graduations, means for. aligning the forms in relation to the rail graduations, a T-square eccentrically connected to one of the rails and having graduations for indicating the position of the forms relative to the side rails, and a transparent. shatter-proof panel hingedly mounted on the support for receiving an imprint from the forms, whereby succeeding forms may be placed and aligned in the support in exact relation to each other.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a support for removably retaining printing forms, rails on the support enclosing the forms and having graduations, means for aligning the forms in relation to the rail graduations, a T-square eccentrically connected to one of the rails and having graduations for indicating the position of the forms relative to the side rails, means for adjusting the eccentric connection to render the T- square slidable on said rail, and a transparent, shatter-proof panel hingedly mounted on the support for receiving an imprint from the forms, whereby succeeding forms may be placed and aligned in the support in exact relation to each other.

CLARENCE A. BEITS. 

